It is a universally acknowledged truth that the Philippine passport does not rank high on the world’s most powerful passport list. According to the 2025 Henley Passport Index, the Philippines holds the 72nd spot globally in terms of passport strength, granting its holders visa-free access to 65 countries. This marks a (very slight) bump up from last year’s ranking of 73rd.
However, for travel influencer Kach Umandap, the Philippine passport never stopped her from exploring the world. At just 36 years old, Umandap holds the record of being the first and youngest Filipino on a Philippine passport to travel to all 193 countries recognized by the United Nations and two observer states.
“It was a childhood dream of mine to travel,” says Umandap. “And then it became a goal, like completing a sort of mission because I was vying for the record.”
In this interview, Umandap shares her takes on the perfect travel strategy for Philippine passport holders, the most underrated countries to visit, and tips on managing visa application stress.
Traveling on a PH Passport
“What I recommended for Filipino travelers, especially first-timers, is that they should start visiting visa-free countries in Southeast Asia. Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia — all the ASEAN countries. By the time you travel to these countries, you’ll have nine passport stamps and a travel history, which you can use to start applying for visas.”
“After you get all the ASEAN countries sorted, then you can start applying for visas to nearby countries. Start in South Korea and Japan. Once you get a Japanese visa, then you can target traveling to larger countries, like Australia and New Zealand. Then I suggest doing the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman).”
“I need to highlight that in countries where there are a lot of Filipino workers… immigration is usually doubtful that you’re there for tourism. That’s why having a good travel history in those visa-free countries and in countries that don’t have a lot of Filipino workers — it matters. Your visa application will likely not be rejected.”
“After you’ve proven you can enter a country with a lot of Filipinos and return to the Philippines, then you can apply for the Schengen and US visas. The game will change for you — once you have the US visa, you can enter all the countries in Central America and most of the Caribbean countries.”
Visa Stress
“It will only get better when your confidence gets better. It will take time. When I am preparing for a visa application, travel history, a cover letter, and showing [bank statements] are very important. You need to show how you can finance your trip, but also what you will be doing in that country.”
“Traveling history is also very important. I promise myself, even now, that I will never overstay no matter how much I like the country — I will spend money to make sure I get out of the country on time. Overstaying can haunt you for the rest of your life. Whatever decision you make right now, it will affect you until the day you die.”
“People also make the mistake of putting a big chunk of money at the last minute. But with many visa applications, you have to present a three to six month bank statement because they check your flow of income.”
“You can never be laid back when it comes to the application.”
Easiest Countries To Travel To
“Anywhere within the ASEAN countries. [The Philippines] has good ties with them. And whatever happens to you, you can always visit the Philippine embassy in each of these countries. Worst-case scenario, you can easily fly back to the Philippines.”
Hardest Countries To Travel To
“US, Schengen, Canada — anywhere where there’s a big diaspora of Filipino workers will be difficult for Filipino tourists. To get approval anywhere where there are Filipinos who are working and who have better lives, it’s harder.”
“The next ones are countries that don’t have Philippine embassies and no real bilateral ties. For example, Africa. We have to go to China to apply for an African visa. But we also need a visa to enter China.”
Most Underrated Destinations
“The Balkans, especially Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. Not many Filipinos know this, but if you have a Japanese visa, you can enter Montenegro. With a valid US visa, you can enter all these countries visa-free.”
“In Central Asia, all the ‘Stans’ are underrated — Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan — and as Filipinos, we get visas on arrival or e-visas now.”
“I’d also recommend Africa, but not until you have more experience. It’s definitely not for beginners. South America is good too, but you cannot go there for a short amount of time.”
Local Regions Worth Visiting
“If you have two [or] three weeks, and you wanna explore, go to Palawan. Traveling in the Visayas region is very well connected. Cebu going to Bohol, Cebu going to Siargao — I suggest that you make Cebu your starting point, and you can travel all over the Philippines from there. I love Manila, I was born and raised in Luzon. But I think Cebu is really the hub of the country. We have the most beautiful beaches; nowhere else in Asia can beat us. But if you want to explore Filipino culture, you need to go to the Visayan regions.”
Best Airlines
“Star Alliance makes sure you’re very well-connected. The nicest one has to be Emirates: best service, but very expensive.”
Managing the Cost of Traveling
“At the beginning I was a budget backpacker, and I’m grateful that I did that when I was younger. I left the Philippines with P500,000. I worked in the Middle East for four years, and I saved up money because I wanted to enter law school, but I ended up using that money to begin my life as a traveler. That money lasted me two, three years.”
“Think about how you can prolong your savings, how you can make traveling sustainable. I booked the cheapest flights, I couch surfed, I looked for Filipinos everywhere. If they can’t host me in their house, they end up feeding me and showing me around.”
“I looked for volunteering opportunities when I was younger until I started travel blogging. I started traveling when I was 24 full-time, and then I started making money on my blog when I was 26 or 27. I learned that I can really survive anywhere.”
Packing Smarter
“Think how you can survive for a week. You need clothes that allow you to survive, but also make you presentable. I always have one nice black dress. I always bring flip-flops, closed shoes, high heels (like a wedge) — shoes I can wear with all my clothes. And one thing to cover me up, like a poncho.”
“Our advantage in the Philippines is that we love having things in sachets. Instead of bringing a big 100 ml toothpaste, bring 5 sachets to last one to two weeks.”
Advice for First-Time Travelers
“If I could redo anything, I would learn everything digital. I would learn a side hustle that would give me another source of income. Find a mentor that will teach you digital skills.”
“Harness being a Filipino. Learn about budgeting and traveling. And always remember that your network is your net worth. If you end up traveling abroad, you may have friends who can host you.”
